TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Roubaix is a small city in northern France, best known as the endpoint for the annual Paris-Roubaix bicycle race, which includes almost 50k of bone-jarring cobblestoned streets.

 

As the home of the National Cherry Festival, the Michigan resort town of Traverse City is probably better known for its cherry cobblers than its cobblestones. But many streets in its historic Old Town district are paved with massive bricks that were brought as ballast in the holds of 19^th century lumber schooners. To the average white-knuckled cyclist, they give a fair impression of cobbles, which is why a new Sept. 20 cycle race through the city streets has been dubbed the Old Town Cherry-Roubaix.

 

The new event, which follows a circular route through some of the city’s most scenic streets, is meant as an appetizer course for the better-known Leelanau Harvest Tour, held this year on Sept. 21. But although they both involve bicycles, the two events are very different in tone.

 

The Old Town Cherry-Roubaix is really a series of competitive races – eight in all – where riders make several laps around a relatively short course. Competitors must all be USAC registered racers, and winners are awarded cash prizes. The Harvest Tour, now in its 25^th year, is a leisurely romp through the vineyards, villages and coastal roads of the scenic Leelanau Peninsula, along loops that can range from 12 to 100 miles in length. Known for the numerous gourmet food stops along the route, the tour attracts about 1,000 riders each year and is a fundraiser for the local recreational trail system.

 

Well-known as a cycling destination, Traverse City’s other major events include the Iceman Cometh Challenge, a 27-mile point-to-point off-road race held in November, and the Tour de Leelanau, a sanctioned European-style road race in May.

 

More information and registration materials for the two September events can be found at www.cherry-roubaix.com/ and www.leelanauharvesttour.org/. For information about lodging, events and attractions in Traverse City, contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-TRAVERSE or www.visittraversecity.com.